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Thursday, 2 November 2017

Infrastructure: Ogun plans solar energy for Ogun State Polytechnic

The Ogun State Government has said it will power the newly established Ogun State Polytechnic, Ipokia with solar energy.

The state Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Olamilekan Adegbite, said plans had been concluded to install solar energy at the institution to guarantee uninterrupted power supply.

In a statement signed by the Head of Media in the Works and Infrastructure Ministry, Mr. Ayokunle Ewuoso, Adegbite was quoted to have said this when officials of the state’s Ministry of Information and Strategy led by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Kola Fagbohun, visited him in his office.

He disclosed that the solar power system would be installed by an Independent Power Provider under a public-private partnership arrangement, adding that the immediate communities of the institution would also benefit from the system.

He said the company selected for the project was one of the 12 IPPs earlier screened and certified to provide electricity for the state.

Adegbite said, “Government has decided to allocate five-hectares of land to the IPP out of the 400 hectares allocated for the institution. The IPP needs a large expanse of land where it will install the solar panels. This is where the solar energy will be transmitted to the institution and its environs.

“What we want to achieve in all of these is to provide uninterrupted power supply to the school and equally allow the immediate environment benefit, though it will not be free.”

He said the government was optimistic that the project would be completed by early 2018.

“By the pedigree of the contractors selected for the project, coupled with adequate funding, within eight to 10 weeks, we should have some buildings ready where academics and non-academic activities can commence. You will recall that the governor has promised that activities in the institution will be phased in such a way that it becomes fully operational in about four years,” he said.